ELKHART LAKE, Wis. -- CART has filed a lawsuit against the Road America auto race track, contending it failed to make its first of three payments of sanctioning fees for the 2003 CART race.
CART said the first installment of $262,500 was due Jan. 1 and had not been made as of Feb. 10, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis. The sanctioning fees for this year's event are $1.75 million.
The open-wheel racing organization also said in the suit that the race track in Elkhart Lake had not stated its intentions regarding the race.
A message left early Thursday at CART by The Associated Press was not immediately returned.
CART has raced at Road America annually since 1982. Road America's current contract with CART began in 1999 and expires after this season.
Road America president and general manager George Bruggenthies said Wednesday he expected this year's race, scheduled for Aug. 3, to continue as planned.
"CART's had some tough times the last 18 months and we've supported them all the way," he said. "That's where our efforts have been."
In addition to a number of leadership changes, CART has lost several high-profile teams, drivers and engine manufacturers to the rival Indy Racing League.
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